Frank Sinatra's "Secret" Mountain Home Is Still on Sale

Perched high on a mountaintop above the majestic Palm Desert in California is the sort of home that transcends the definition of "home." With eight bedrooms, three kitchens, nine fireplaces, and precisely 12.5 bathrooms inside three buildings, this remote compound made a fittingly luxurious getaway for its original owner: None other than the late, great Frank Sinatra, who named the property "Villa Maggio" (a nod to his character in "From Here to Eternity"). Sounds lovely, doesn't it? We agree, which is why we can't understand how this stunning property is still available after it went on sale in 2015.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

While most of us know of Sinatra's other desert home — that would be the jaw-dropping Twin Palms in the Movie Colony neighborhood of Palm Springs — Villa Maggio is the retreat where the legend would go to unwind. And by "unwind," we mean "party in privacy." Sinatra could house up to 20 of his closest friends at the estate, which was (and still is) accessible by helipad. One such party lead to a very memorable encounter with his future wife, then known as Barbara Marx. During a game of charades, Sinatra grew increasingly frustrated at his guests, who weren't picking up on the clues he gave when it was his turn. Marx was responsible for keeping the time using a clock, which became a source of contention between her and Frank. She recounts the experience in her memoir, "Lady Blue Eyes: My Life With Frank":

Refusing to be intimidated, I stared him out until he turned and hurled the clock against the door, shattering it into a hundred pieces. Springs, coils, and shards of glass flew across the room. The clock face lay upturned on the floor, its hands forever fixed at a few minutes after 4:00 A.M. It was Pat Henry who broke the ensuing hush. The comic who opened Frank's shows said, "I know what that charade is, Francis." "What?" Frank spun round and scowled. "It was 'As Time Goes By.'"

The natural materials throughout the home were also chosen by Frank, and complement the surrounding landscape. Large fireplaces make it cozy, but the best feature (aside from the backstory of the home) might just be the sweeping views, which also make a dramatic backdrop to the huge pool, tennis courts, and outdoor dance floor.